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Boston University
Boston, MA
Boston University is a renowned private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Established in 1839, it is one of the largest independent universities in the United States, enrolling over 35,000 students from all around the world. With its diverse and vibrant campus, BU offers a wide range of academic programs across its 17 schools and colleges. It is particularly renowned for its strong programs in business, law, engineering, communications, and health sciences.
BU boasts a faculty of distinguished professors who are experts in their respective fields and are dedicated to providing a world-class education to their students. The university is committed to fostering intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Students have the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research and participate in internships, co-op programs, and study abroad opportunities, enabling them to gain practical experience and expand their global perspective.
Apart from its strong academic foundation, BU offers a vibrant campus life with over 450 student organizations, clubs, and sports teams. The university also hosts numerous cultural events, concerts, and guest lectures, providing a diverse and inclusive environment for students to succeed academically and personally. Located in the heart of Boston, students have access to a city full of history, culture, and career opportunities. Whether strolling through the historic Freedom Trail, visiting world-class museums, or enjoying the local cuisine, BU students have endless opportunities to enrich their college experience.
Located in Boston, MA and set in an urban environment, Boston University is a private university. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 10%. The freshman retention rate at Boston University is 95% and the six-year graduation rate is 90%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 6. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 15.
Find out more about what you can expect if you get into Boston University.
Quick Facts
18,656
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
10%
Acceptance Rate
$66,670
Tuition
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
90%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to discover as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the university in order to improve your chances of being accepted. Here are the most relevant data you need to know about admission policy and requirements at Boston University.
According to the most recent information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 8,733 in 2024. Boston University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the candidate. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. This prominent school with a rich history offers an unparalleled learning experience to its students.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 30% and ACT scores 10%. 83% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 16% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 1% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 89, 10 between 24-29 and 1 in the range between 18-23.
The ACT composite average score for all the accepted students in 2024 was 32 while the average GPA was 3.89. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Boston University; the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 692 and an average SAT Math score of 726.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 6. If you are applying for a transfer, the application deadline is March 15.
10%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2024, the freshman retention rate for Boston University was 95%, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 90%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2024, the institution had an enrollment of 36,624 students.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 72. There was a total of 18,656 undergrad students, including 3,899 international students. The school reported to have a total of 930 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 12,234 male and 16,870 female full-time students in 2024. 4,905 full-time graduate men and 6,612 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student body and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. A diverse student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 3,549 Asian students and 1,063 Afro-American students in 2024. 2,018 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 812 as multirace. The school also had 13 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 10 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 622 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to think about before you apply. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Boston University that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Boston University? Here is what you need to know.
In 2024, tuition amounted to $66,670 for all full-time domestic students. Since Boston University is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $1,432 in 2024.
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to take into consideration is the approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to give about $1,000 for books and supplies during their time at Boston University.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Boston University was $19,020 in 2024. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2024 added up to $12,180 for one academic year.
| Tuition | $ 66,670 |
| Room and Board | $ 19,020 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 86,690 |
Financial Aid
Financial help for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid students could get at Boston University.
The most recent records show that 1,172 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $62,183.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
7,558 students were given some form of need-based financial aid. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 7,644. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $25,432,763, and state $2,966,129. The students of Boston University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $404,785,765, and external in the amount of $3,441,218.
$32,831
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
1,965 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2024. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 314 full-time freshman. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $25,432,763 while the state aid is $1,288,641. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $27,211,152. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $6,945,257 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
Majors
Faculty
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2024, this ratio at Boston University was 10:1. That means that there were 10 times more students than teachers at this school. This school has recently reported to have 2,829 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 1,589 male and 1,240 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some information about students' life at Boston University.
It has a campus size of 140 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists only of current students and/or alumni.
According to recently gathered data, there are 450 open-membership organizations at Boston University. That includes sororities and fraternities. The student organization that has the biggest membership is student government, followed by service organizations and residence hall associations. Other popular student organizations at this school are performing and Acapella groups and cultural organizations.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Boston University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club.
Student Services
Boston University has a number of services needed for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Boston University.
All in all, campus life at Boston University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Boston University.
Career Counselling
At Boston University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Finding out some information about the expected post-graduation salary can help you decide if a particular school suits your career objectives.
Students who find employment within six months of graduating can expect an average base annual starting salary of 60,317 USD.
$60,317
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Boston University is located in Boston, MA.
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According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 66,670 USD per academic year for Boston University.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Boston University is 10%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Boston University is 95%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.